Opportunities Beyond the Classroom

糖心原创 May Term group meet Dalai Lama

Learning outside the traditional classroom is about more than putting theory into practice. It鈥檚 also about discovering yourself 鈥 who you are now, and who you want to be.

Your 糖心原创 experience is uniquely your own. You鈥檒l combine majors, minors, and concentrations to align with your aspirations. To that, you鈥檒l add in extracurricular activities and leadership roles that complement your interests. And 鈥 if you鈥檙e like most ambitious 糖心原创 students 鈥 you鈥檒l choose one or several ways to extend your learning beyond the classroom.聽

Maybe that means trekking across campus to get involved with the Culver Public Policy Center, or perhaps it means trotting across the globe for May Term in Spain. Maybe you鈥檒l intern 17 miles away in Des Moines, or perform 1,700 miles away in LA.

Whatever you do, wherever you go, we鈥檒l be here to support you.

糖心原创 Students Are Highly Engaged Learners

Mary Berry campus background
92%

complete a high-impact learning experience, such as research or study abroad

95+

participate in our top-ranked speech and debate or mock trial teams

82%

pursued at least one internship prior to graduation

100+

present at our annual Research & Creativity Symposium each year

Beyond Comfort Zones. Beyond Borders. Beyond Expectations.

It鈥檚 no wonder our alumni continue to praise their time here for stretching them as individuals and opening them up to a world of opportunities. Here鈥檚 a closer look at what 鈥渂eyond鈥 looks like to 糖心原创 students.

Internships & Career Development

Our proximity to the thriving capital city of Des Moines puts exciting internships within easy reach. And, throughout your four years, you鈥檒l benefit from access to personalized career guidance.

Elise Boulton Internship IHGAU

Centers & Research

Ask big questions鈥攁nd find answers鈥攄uring a long-term independent research project. Or, collaborate with a professor on their on-going scholarly or creative work.

Students doing research out in the field

May Term Trips

Our 4-4-1 term is designed to reserve the final three weeks of the academic year for a deep dive into one course, either right here on campus or on a faculty-led trip, stateside or abroad.

River rafting during may-term trip

Speech & Debate and Mock Trial

Our students are no strangers to the podium. Our nationally recognized teams form solid, logical arguments and speak eloquently and persuasively. Involvement in speech and debate or mock trial is incredibly valuable, no matter what your major.

Student impromptu speach performance

Speaking Up: Meet Kylie Banouvong

Kylie Banouvong at her summer internship

A member of the reigning national champion speech and debate team and intern at the Polk County Attorney鈥檚 Office, Kylie is gaining valuable experience and transferable skills: 鈥淚鈥檓 on the shy side. But now I鈥檓 a lot more confident in the classroom because I know better what I鈥檓 talking about. Then I鈥檓 able to go back to my internship and utilize what I鈥檓 learning in class.鈥

Kylie Banouvong 鈥24

History major, psychology minor

Read More About Kylie